The deadline for New York’s state budget has been extended once again, now set for Thursday, as lawmakers continue to debate spending priorities and the impact of potential federal funding changes.
Despite a Tuesday morning deadline, the state Legislature failed to reach an agreement on key policy measures, delaying the budget’s approval.
Governor Kathy Hochul has put forward a proposed budget ranging from $250 billion to $265 billion for the 2026 fiscal year.
Legislators are pushing to finalize and pass the budget by the end of the week.
State Senator Tom O’Mara, Ranking Member on the Senate Finance Committee, on Tuesday, joined Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt, Senator Jim Tedisco, and other members of the Senate Republican Conference to highlight the failure of Governor Kathy Hochul and the Legislature’s Democrat majorities to adopt an on-time state budget for the fourth consecutive year and to call for greater transparency in the state’s annual budget adoption process.
O’Mara said, “The inability of Governor Hochul and New York’s Democrat legislative leaders to adopt an on-time state budget is yet another signal of dysfunction within this state government under one-party, all-Democrat control. At a time of widespread economic uncertainty and with so many taxpayers, families, small businesses, and others struggling under heavy burdens of unaffordable taxes, mandates, and overregulation, Albany Democrats respond with inaction. New Yorkers are worried about rampant crime. New Yorkers are worried about making ends meet. They’re worried about the future of their jobs and opportunities for their families. In response, Albany Democrats respond by bringing New York government to a standstill. It’s yet another signal of a state in decline and spiraling out of control.”
GOP Minority Leader Ortt said, “Here we are, April 1st, and there is seemingly no movement toward a final state budget because Democrats can’t agree on how much to increase spending and taxes or come to an agreement on basic public safety concerns. This is truly the height of government dysfunction – Democrats continue to think they can spend their way to affordability and at the same time, completely disregard public safety. We can’t predict when we will finally see a budget deal, but we can tell you with certainty that it will be completely unsustainable and out of touch with the needs of New Yorkers.”
Assemblyman John Lemondes (R,C-LaFayette), who represents the 126th Assembly District released a statement that said “The system of one-party rule simply does not work.”
“Year after year state Democrats continue to fail to meet the state budget deadline. This is fiscal irresponsibility at the highest level. Working-class families across our state have to budget their finances and pay their bills on time, yet every year, the Majority acts as if they are above that. It’s time for Democrats to stop hiding and making backroom deals and bring a budget to the floor that will work for all New Yorkers.”
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